Grealish future uncertain as Man City omit midfielder from Asia tour

Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City’s pre-season tour of Asia, deepening uncertainty over the midfielder’s future under new head coach Enzo Maresca as he enters the final year of his contract.

City returned to pre-season training last week, with Grealish among the players reporting back at the club’s base. However, the England international was not named in the 28-man squad that travelled to Hong Kong and Seoul for an 11-day tour featuring three friendlies.

According to BBC Sport, Grealish is still recovering from a foot injury sustained in January which curtailed his loan spell at Everton just as he appeared to be rediscovering his form. The setback also ended his hopes of pushing for a place in England’s squad for the World Cup.

The 30-year-old – who turns 31 in September – had already fallen out of favour under former manager Pep Guardiola before his return to Manchester City. He is now into the final 12 months of his deal, with no sign so far that the club are preparing to offer an extension to a contract worth around £300,000 per week.

That leaves Maresca facing a key decision: whether to reintegrate Grealish into the first-team plans or sanction his departure this summer, potentially bringing to a close the midfielder’s time with the former Premier League champions.

Maresca keeps options open

Maresca, who replaced Guardiola earlier this summer, has been careful not to shut the door on Grealish’s prospects at the Etihad Stadium.

“In this moment he is here, and he is still a Manchester City player. My duty is to try to coach all the players who are at the club,” the Italian said last week.

He added: “I have a good relationship with Jack since I left, and we are still in contact, because he has a big heart and he is a fantastic person, and then we will see what happens.”

However, Maresca may have fresh concerns after photographs emerged in recent months showing Grealish drinking on two separate occasions. The images, which appeared over the last three months, could affect how potential suitors view him at a time when his next move is likely to be decisive for the remainder of his career.

Grealish was at the centre of Manchester City’s treble celebrations in 2023, but he rejected the “party boy” label then, insisting he had simply been “enjoying himself”. The recurrence of similar scenes more recently may nevertheless make some clubs more cautious about pursuing a deal.

The midfielder has not played a competitive match since the turn of the year.

Phillips also left out as City listen to offers

Grealish is not the only senior midfielder in limbo. Kalvin Phillips has also returned to Manchester City after an unsuccessful loan at Sheffield United in the Championship and was similarly omitted from the Asia tour squad.

Despite still being only 30, Phillips’ career has stalled dramatically since he left Leeds United for Manchester City in 2022. He has managed just seven minutes of action in the Carabao Cup across the last two seasons, and current indications are that he too is outside Maresca’s immediate plans.

City are understood to be open to offers for Phillips during the current transfer window, and his exclusion from the touring party underlines his precarious position at the club.

Haaland among stars rested after World Cup

Maresca has taken 28 players to Asia for three friendlies, starting against Serie A champions Inter Milan on Saturday. City will then face a K League All-Stars side before meeting Atletico Madrid in Seoul next week as the Italian begins to shape his first-team squad.

Several high-profile names have been given additional time off following their involvement at the World Cup, including Erling Haaland, new signing Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly.

The travelling group does include Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Antoine Semenyo, alongside a number of players from City’s reserve ranks as Maresca assesses his options ahead of the new campaign.

With Grealish and Phillips both left behind in Manchester, their absence from the tour is likely to fuel further speculation over whether either will play a meaningful part in Maresca’s first season in charge – or whether this summer marks the beginning of the end for their City careers.